A number of changes to the AFL side has opened the door for a host of VFL listed players to make an impression on the eve of the finals.

Essendon VFL will face ladder leading Box Hill on Saturday afternoon at Windy Hill.

The seventh placed Dons are one of the sides jockeying for positions in the top eight, while the Hawks have only dropped two matches this season.

Michael Hartley returns after 13 straight games at AFL level, while VFL listed players including Charles Lill. James Peters, Michael Luxford, Joel Ottavi, Danel Younan and Alex Marklew have been named in the extended squad.

Essendon v Box Hill

Windy Hill

Saturday 12^th August

2:10pm

B          59. A Heppell    36. M Hartley     14. J Ridley

HB        25. A Morgan    10. A Francis     27. M Redman

C          19. K Mutch      57. N Hind         37. D Clarke

HF        34. J Long        44. McKernan    30. K Langford

F          63. M Darby      51. A Boyse      16. J Begley     

R          38. S Draper     39. Hocking      24. C Bird

I           64. C Lill, 56. J Peters, 62. M Luxford, 72. J Ottavi, 55. D Younan, 65. B Graham,
            54. N O’Brien, 69. A Marklew

23P      76. L Davis

The round 17 clash will be televised on Channel 7 from 2pm.

You can keep up to date with the game by following @essendonvfl on Twitter